Mason stands tall as Flyers down Avalanche

Associated Press
Steve Mason keeps his eyes on Matt Duchene’s attempted wraparound in the third period Thursday as the Flyers posted a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche’ Matt Duchene, left, tries for a wrap-around goal as Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Philadelphia Flyers' Michael Raffl, left, raises his stick to celebrate his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game in front of Colorado Avalanche players Matt Duchene, center, and Tyson Barrie, right, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Philadelphia. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

PHILADELPHIA — With one game to go before what the purists would consider a futile two-plus week break for the Olympics, the Flyers showed Thursday night they’re prepared to do exactly what they have to do to make the playoffs: Play at home the same way they’ve been playing on the road.

Mixing superb penalty killing with attention to defensive detail throughout, and exhibiting patience on the power play and moments of ferocity on the forecheck, the Flyers overcame some early rustiness to shut down and shovel away the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 at Wells Fargo Center.

Pending Olympians Mark Streit and Michael Raffl scored to post an early lead for the Flyers, and Claude Giroux clinched it with an empty net goal in the final seconds.

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The victory was only possible, however, because goalie Steve Mason kicked away several shots that could have or should have been goals for the Avalanche (36-16-5, 77 points), who have followed a four-game winning streak with losses to a pair of rampaging Metropolitan types, the Rangers and Flyers.

“Against a team like that you can never sit back,” Streit said. “They got that big goal two minutes before the end. But you know, we hung with it and played well defensively and got the win.”

The Flyers (29-23-6, 64 points) seemed to have a shaky moment or three getting their game in gear against the Avs. But once they did, they played at the same high level that produced victories on the road in Los Angeles and San Jose.

Now only a Saturday home game against Calgary separates them from a potential momentum-breaking Olympic hiatus, though the schedule will be kind when they return, as 14 of the Flyers’ final 23 games will be played at home.

Provided they keep playing the same way, that seems like a workable plan for a playoff spot.

Any plan that offers Mason as a crease stalwart has a chance at succeeding these days, however.

He seems to have regained his pre-holidaze form, stopping 38 Avalanche shots to nail down the win. In his last five games, Mason is 4-1 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .953 saves percentage. Only a Nathan MacKinnon sharp-angle wrist shot prevented him from getting what would have been a third shutout in five games.

“I think sometimes you run into a hot goalie and that’s certainly what happened tonight,” Colorado winger Gabriel Landeskog said. “(Mason) played outstanding. But for us I think we didn’t make it hard enough for him in the first 55 minutes. I think the last five we were in his face, banging rebounds, and trying to bang one home there and made it hard on him. We started throwing pucks from different angles and tough angles and what not.”

And all the while, Mason was suffering from cramping in his lower extremities ... and elsewhere.

“You name it,” the admittedly dehydrated goalie said afterward, “and it was cramping.”

All the while, Berube knew Mason was in trouble, and had backup Ray Emery poised to come into the game. But Mason was calling the shots in that matter, just as he was saving shot after shot.

After allowing the Avs to get within a goal, Mason made a huge post-to-post save on PA Parenteau to keep the lead intact. He had to withstand another minute-plus of Avs pressure with an extra skater until Wayne Simmonds won a race to a cleared puck and got it to Giroux to ice the game.

If it were up to him, of course, he’d say it was Mason who iced it.

“His work ethic is great, and the saves he makes are pretty impressive,” Giroux said of his goalie. “Especially at the end there, with like two minutes left and he came across and made that save. We’re happy he’s on our side.”

So is that what Giroux told the drained Mason during a late stoppage?

“I told him to stop milking it, but he knows I was just kidding,” Giroux said. “He was playing such a good game, and having fun. When he’s having fun, I think that’s when he plays his best.”